2021 Players Championship Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions
The Players Championship doesn’t come with quite the same fanfare as one of golf’s four majors, but it’s as big as any other event on Tour. So, with Thursday’s start right around the corner, sportsbooks are rolling out some interesting prop bets, most focused on the famous 17th at TPC Sawgrass. So, let’s take a look at two which I think give some nice value.
2021 Players Championship Prop Bets
Total Balls in the Water at 17 O/U 43.5
Bet: Over 43.5 Balls in the Water at 17 @ -125
As I said, most of these props revolve around the famous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. The Island green always brings drama, and this year Unibet is letting you bet on how many balls end up in the drink throughout the weekend.
The total for this year’s tournament is 43.5, and I’ve decided I’m going to be hammering the over at odds of -125. Last year’s Players Championship was cancelled due to COVID-19, but of the last five played, more than 44 balls have gone in the water four times.
| Year | Balls in the Water at No. 17 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 45 |
| 2018 | 54 |
| 2017 | 69 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2015 | 45 |
2016’s 36-shot performance is the lone outlier, but I’m confident with my over pick here. Players need to make shots on 17 as they head toward the clubhouse. It leads to misplayed balls and, fortunately for us, shots in the water. And in case you’re wondering what the record is for most balls in the water at 17 for a single tournament, it happened 93 times during the 2007 Players Championship.
Round 1 Hole in One at 17
Bet: Yes @ +600
Is it likely someone makes an ace at 17 in Thursday’s Round 1? No, of course not. But, we’re playing historical trends here and I refuse to just bet “no” on this. I want to bet on a hole-in-one at 17 and Round1 provides easily the best chance.
For starters, obviously the field is at its largest during Round 1. More golfers playing equal more opportunities. That’s math. But also, Round 1 has historically produced more hole-in-ones at The Players Championship than any other round.
In the history of the tournament being played at TPC Sawgrass there have been nine hole-in-ones at 17. Of those nine instances, five have come in Round 1. Most recently, Ryan Moore had a Round 1 ace at 17 in 2019. Sergio Garcia did the same in 2017.